Bert Hardy, born in London, worked his way up from a lab assistant to become a photographer. His talent flourished as a staff photographer on Picture Post, joining the illustrated magazine during the Second World War. As well as traveling with the armed forces, his images of the Blitz are amongst the finest and closest to the action taken.Below is a selection of 22 stunning pictures from Hardy’s private collection. “Stored for decades at his home, these rare black and white photos were kept as keepsakes from his legendary career and are now on display for the very first time.”

 Piccadilly, 1953

Pool of London 1949

Piccadilly, 1953

Sugar Ray Robinson, 1951

Life of an East End Parson, 1940

Is There a Colour Bar, Cable St, London, 1949

Firefighters, London, 1941

Teacher and pupils, 1956

Ken Joy breaks the London to Brighton cycling record, 1949

Life of an East End, London, Parson, Nov 23rd, 1940

Royal Wedding, King George VI with the bride, Princess Elizabeth, 1947

Cockney Life at Elephant and Castle, London, January 9th 1949

The Pool of London, 1949

London, 1949

Teenagers at the dance, 1957

Elephant & Castle, 1949, My Goodness Guinness

A woman waves her handkerchief goodbye at the station in ‘Wartime Terminus, Paddington Station’, 1942

Men and women sit on the steps of a fountain at Picadilly Circus, London, 1953

Is there a British Colour Bar? 1949

The Truth about Teenagers, The ones who live only for Tonight, 1957

Grand Hotel. The Imperial, Torquay, 1947

 Wartime Terminus, Paddington Station, 1942

(via Flashbak)